Two suspects were taken into custody after reportedly leading La Porte County Sheriff’s Department deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle Thursday morning.
The vehicle theft was reported Wednesday, April 29, at 10:47 p.m. CT from a resident in the 9,000 East block of County Road 200 North. Just before 5:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, April 30, Deputy Dan Kesling reportedly spotted the vehicle traveling south on County Road 300 South in rural Pleasant Township. According to the report, a traffic stop was initiated, but the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Kevin Reading of La Porte, led police on a pursuit.
The driver drove the alleged stolen vehicle through some fields and became stuck along the railroad tracks north of County Road 400 South. The driver then fled the vehicle, according to police.
The passenger, 26-year-old Grant E. Romano of La Porte, was taken into custody. Reading was later apprehended by Deputy Andy Morse and K9 Jager.
Reading was booked into the La Porte County Jail after being cleared by medical staff following a dog bite by K9 Jager. He was charged with Level 6 Felony charges of auto theft, resisting law enforcement, and possession of methamphetamine, along with misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement and a violation of the governor’s no travel order.
Romano was booked into the La Porte County Jail on Level 6 Felony charges of possession of a hypodermic syringe, methamphetamine and a narcotic drug, in addition to a misdemeanor charge of violating the governor’s no travel order.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
